Average Housing Allowance Going Up For Members Of Military

The allowance military members receive for housing is going up on average this coming year.

The Department of Defense has released the 2014 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates.

Overall rates, which will increase an average of 5 percent this year, take effect on January 1.

On average, BAH rates for members with dependents will increase approximately $79 per month and $76 for members without dependents.

A typical mid-grade enlisted member with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $79 per month higher than last year, while a typical junior officer without dependents will find his/her BAH about $76 higher than last year.

In areas where rates will decrease, the decrease will only apply to members newly reporting to those locations.

The Pentagon said members are protected by individual rate protection which ensures that those already assigned to a given location will not see their BAH rate decrease.

However, they will receive the increase if the rate goes up.

The Defense Department said this assures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area's housing costs decrease.

An estimated $20 billion will be paid to approximately one million service members in 2014.